Rites of Passage

This May Bank Holiday, the Clarence Hall is pleased to host two key events within the Crickhowell Music Festival, as it returns for its 30th year with a rich and imaginative programme.

Presented by Crickhowell Choral Society and running from 1–4 May, this year’s festival is shaped around the theme Rites of Passage. Through music, it traces the milestones of human experience, drawing together both familiar masterworks and lesser-known treasures that are now beginning to receive the attention they deserve.

At the heart of the festival are the choral performances given by Crickhowell Choral Society, joined by the Festival Baroque Orchestra and a distinguished line-up of soloists. Saturday’s concert at St Edmund’s Church features music by Purcell and Eric Whitacre, alongside the striking and rarely performed In exitu Israel by Mondonville.

Sunday continues this journey through life’s milestones. A Festival Service at St Catwg’s Church offers the opportunity to hear a Bach cantata within the context for which it was originally written, before the evening concert at St Edmund’s turns to themes of faith. Here, the much-loved Mozart’s Requiem sits alongside music by Zelenka and Schubert, creating a programme that is both profound and reflective.

The festival returns to the Clarence Hall for its closing event on Bank Holiday Monday — a special recital celebrating ten years of the Choral Scholars scheme. Bringing together talented young singers from across the years, this concert offers a joyful conclusion, highlighting the enduring power of music to inspire and connect across generations.

The festival continues to be one of the highlights of Crickhowell’s cultural calendar. With the Clarence Hall hosting both the opening and closing concerts, we’re delighted to play a part in a weekend of music, bringing performers and audiences together in celebration.

More information and tickets are available at: https://crickhowellchoralsociety.org/events/